World's 10 best airports

World's 10 best airports

The world's best airport in 2010 is Changi in Singapore, according to the Skytrax World Airport Awards that were announced on March 23 at a ceremony in Brussels, Belgium, as part of the Passenger Terminal Expo.

Changi Airport was named Airport of the Year 2010. It also won the titles for Best Airport Leisure Amenities and Best Airport Asia.

North American airports did not fare as well, and there were only two in the top 25: Vancouver (No. 11) and San Francisco (No. 20). Narita in Tokyo came in at No. 17 and London Heathrow at No. 21.

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Changi Airport, Singapore: Rank 1

Recognised as one of the best airports in the world, it has 80 airlines serving 200 cities in 60 countries. The airport now has an annual handling capacity of more than 70 million passengers.

Changi Airport handles more than 4,500 arrivals and departures every week, and over 37 million passengers a year.

With over 40,000 square meters of commercial space, Changi Airport also has Singapore's largest shopping location.

World's 10 best airports

The Incheon International Airport at Seoul airport has unique luxury features such as a golf course, spa, private sleeping rooms, a casino, and indoor gardens.

Incheon is the main hub for Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and Polar Air Cargo. It is connected to the mainland by Incheon International Airport Expressway (Expressway 130), a part of which is Yeongjong Bridge.

The airport is served by frequent bus service from all parts of South Korea as well as by traditional ferry service between Yeongjong pier and Incheon.

Airport limousines operate around the clock from Seoul to Incheon, and several backup highway buses escort people from places within and outside Seoul.

The airport opened for business in early 2001, replacing the older Gimpo International Airport, which now serves only domestic destinations.

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Image: South Korea's largest carrier Korean Air's planes are parked at Incheon International Airport.Photographs: Jo Yong-Hak/Reuters

World's 10 best airports

Munich Franz Josef StraussAirport is the second busiest airport in Germany in terms of passenger traffic (34.73 million in 2008), behind Frankfurt Airport.

Most of the airport's facilities are located in the area between the two runways.

The approach road and railway divide the west part into a southern half, which contains cargo and maintenance facilities and a northern half, which contains mostly administrative buildings, a holiday long-term parking lot and the visitors' centre.

The Munich Airport Centre is a shopping, business and recreation area that connects the two terminals.

Airport authorities cater to visitors and sight-seers by creating a 'Visitors Park' that includes a 'Visitors Hill' from which a good view can be obtained of the westerly aircraft apron and Terminal 1.

World's 10 best airports

Auckland Airport is one of New Zealand's most important infrastructure assets, providing thousands of jobs for the region and is the country's second largest cargo 'port' by value, contributing around $14 billion to the economy and catering to over four million visitors each year.

The airport handles 5 15 million passengers annually.

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Image: An Air New Zealand aircraft sits on the apron at Auckland International Airport.Photographs: Nigel Marple/Reuters